Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 34-45 |
| Number of pages | 12 |
| Journal | Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part A |
| Volume | 58 |
| Early online date | 8 Jun 2016 |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Aug 2016 |
Abstract
This paper revisits the debate between Harry Collins and Allan Franklin, concerning the experimenters' regress. Focusing my attention on a case study from recent psychology (regarding experimental evidence for the existence of a Mozart Effect), I argue that Franklin is right to highlight the role of epistemological strategies in scientific practice, but that his account does not sufficiently appreciate Collins's point about the importance of tacit knowledge in experimental practice. In turn, Collins rightly highlights the epistemic uncertainty (and skepticism) surrounding much experimental research. However, I will argue that his analysis of tacit knowledge fails to elucidate the reasons why scientists often are (and should be) skeptical of other researchers' experimental results. I will present an analysis of tacit knowledge in experimental research that not only answers to this desideratum, but also shows how such skepticism can in fact be a vital enabling factor for the dynamic processes of experimental knowledge generation.
Keywords
- Conceptual openness, Epistemic uncertainty, Experimenters' regress, Operationalism, Replication, Tacit knowledge
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Arts and Humanities(all)
- History
- Arts and Humanities(all)
- History and Philosophy of Science
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In: Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part A, Vol. 58, 01.08.2016, p. 34-45.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - The experimenters' regress reconsidered
T2 - Replication, tacit knowledge, and the dynamics of knowledge generation
AU - Feest, Uljana
PY - 2016/8/1
Y1 - 2016/8/1
N2 - This paper revisits the debate between Harry Collins and Allan Franklin, concerning the experimenters' regress. Focusing my attention on a case study from recent psychology (regarding experimental evidence for the existence of a Mozart Effect), I argue that Franklin is right to highlight the role of epistemological strategies in scientific practice, but that his account does not sufficiently appreciate Collins's point about the importance of tacit knowledge in experimental practice. In turn, Collins rightly highlights the epistemic uncertainty (and skepticism) surrounding much experimental research. However, I will argue that his analysis of tacit knowledge fails to elucidate the reasons why scientists often are (and should be) skeptical of other researchers' experimental results. I will present an analysis of tacit knowledge in experimental research that not only answers to this desideratum, but also shows how such skepticism can in fact be a vital enabling factor for the dynamic processes of experimental knowledge generation.
AB - This paper revisits the debate between Harry Collins and Allan Franklin, concerning the experimenters' regress. Focusing my attention on a case study from recent psychology (regarding experimental evidence for the existence of a Mozart Effect), I argue that Franklin is right to highlight the role of epistemological strategies in scientific practice, but that his account does not sufficiently appreciate Collins's point about the importance of tacit knowledge in experimental practice. In turn, Collins rightly highlights the epistemic uncertainty (and skepticism) surrounding much experimental research. However, I will argue that his analysis of tacit knowledge fails to elucidate the reasons why scientists often are (and should be) skeptical of other researchers' experimental results. I will present an analysis of tacit knowledge in experimental research that not only answers to this desideratum, but also shows how such skepticism can in fact be a vital enabling factor for the dynamic processes of experimental knowledge generation.
KW - Conceptual openness
KW - Epistemic uncertainty
KW - Experimenters' regress
KW - Operationalism
KW - Replication
KW - Tacit knowledge
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84973100772&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.shpsa.2016.04.003
DO - 10.1016/j.shpsa.2016.04.003
M3 - Article
C2 - 27474184
AN - SCOPUS:84973100772
VL - 58
SP - 34
EP - 45
JO - Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part A
JF - Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part A
SN - 0039-3681
ER -